It is editorializing, but Square Enix needs all the wins it can get these days, and it just got one of the biggest in video games! Ahead of it’s 40th anniversary on May 27, the long-running Dragon Quest JRPG series has been named an inductee into the World Video Game Hall of Fame, located inside the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.
First opened in 2015 and open to the public year-round, the World Video Game Hall of Fame recognizes electronic games that achieve icon status and significantly influence the video game industry, entertainment, popular culture, or society at large over a sustained period of time.
When it was released in 1986, the first Dragon Quest wasn’t the first monster-fighting RPG, but it quickly became the first JRPG with massive international acclaim.
It’s managed to endure that acclaim through four decades, shipping more than 97 million units worldwide across 11 main series titles and many spin-off games.
It’s also managed to remain in pop culture through films, anime, novels, manga, and merchandise.
As the years have gone by, Square Enix has protected the IP through a friendly approach to storytelling, charming visuals that always feel new yet familiar, and stunning soundtracks.
You can celebrate by picking up the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, which combines full remakes of Dragon Quest I and Dragon Quest II, now brought to life in a modernized take on the 2D graphical style. Get access to never-before-seen story content and gameplay updates. And it’s all available on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Pick it up on your system of choice today.
